NAVAL CHIEF COMPLICIT IN EXTRAJUDICIAL SHOOTING

S E C R E T ABUJA 000873 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2015 TAGS: PHUM KCRM MARR PGOV PINR KDEM NI SUBJECT: NAVAL CHIEF COMPLICIT IN EXTRAJUDICIAL SHOOTING Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for Reasons 1.4 (B & D). ¶1. (U) Two local newspapers reported on March 22 and 23 that a 50-year old female civilian, Gloria Ekeh, was shot by Chief of Naval Staff Afolayan's security detail. The newspapers reported that Ekeh's car collided with one of the Naval Chief's escort vehicles, causing an accidental discharge by one of the security personnel. The papers reported that Ekeh was shot in the leg and immediately taken to the National Hospital in Abuja by a Naval vehicle. She was reported to be recovering, with all treatment costs borne by the Navy. ¶2. (S/NF) This incident occurred in the vicinity of the Embassy and was witnessed by a highly-trained and experienced TDYer from the Office of Defense Cooperation. His account differs greatly from the public account put forward by Navy Headquarters. The ODC member came upon a motor vehicle accident involving at least one GON vehicle on Maitama Avenue, across from the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS),on March 18 at approximately 1545Z. The ODC member saw 2-3 individuals in police custody in the rear of a security vehicle, and a woman, stooped down in a submissive posture, pleading with a uniformed police officer. The ODC member then heard a single gunshot, saw the woman lying in the street, and saw a non-uniformed individual returning a pistol to a holster concealed under his suit. The uniformed police officers did not react to the shooting in any way other than to try to clear the crowd away and to move the woman to a car, which was driven away. The ODC member could see that her feet and legs were covered in a "massive amount" of blood. The ODC member was then ordered to leave the area by a hostile, non-uniformed individual who threatened to "flatten the tires" of the ODC member's vehicle (which had diplomatic license plates) if he did not comply. ¶3. (S/NF) Neither Navy Headquarters nor Chief of Naval Staff Afolayan has made any public comment disputing the events as portrayed in the press. Post intends to consider Afolayan complicit in this extrajudicial shooting, and to bar the Chief of Naval Staff from participation in any USG-funded security assistance events. CAMPBELL